Towing stability

[big_tow]

We have a 13 tahoe LTZ, I'm currently replacing all of the air ride suspension with standard components from strutmasters.
We pull a boat that is probably 5500 loaded, and it isn't fun. Unfortunately the trailer has surge brakes so a sway brake can't be used. The tahoe with no load has excessive roll and bounce. The front tires are worn on outside telling me my suspension is shot. Keep you posted

 

[Geotrash]

We have a 13 tahoe LTZ, I'm currently replacing all of the air ride suspension with standard components from strutmasters.
We pull a boat that is probably 5500 loaded, and it isn't fun. Unfortunately the trailer has surge brakes so a sway brake can't be used. The tahoe with no load has excessive roll and bounce. The front tires are worn on outside telling me my suspension is shot. Keep you posted

Curious...why did you decide to replace the air ride system with standard components? General consensus here is that the factory air ride is THE golden ticket for towing duty on these, and that matches my experience as well.

 

[Grady_Wilson]

We have a 13 tahoe LTZ, I'm currently replacing all of the air ride suspension with standard components from strutmasters.
We pull a boat that is probably 5500 loaded, and it isn't fun. Unfortunately the trailer has surge brakes so a sway brake can't be used. The tahoe with no load has excessive roll and bounce. The front tires are worn on outside telling me my suspension is shot. Keep you posted

Any suspension that is worn out will not handle well, especially with a load.
Have you driven a properly maintained Tahoe with the Z55 suspension?
My Yukon exhibits none of the excessive roll or bounce that you mention, and neither does the 2009 Silverado 1500 that my sister owns.
But both vehicles have had the suspension properly maintained.

 

[Padraig]

We have a 13 tahoe LTZ, I'm currently replacing all of the air ride suspension with standard components from strutmasters.
We pull a boat that is probably 5500 loaded, and it isn't fun. Unfortunately the trailer has surge brakes so a sway brake can't be used. The tahoe with no load has excessive roll and bounce. The front tires are worn on outside telling me my suspension is shot. Keep you posted

You may want to consider replacing the surge brakes with electric over hydraulic. Much better braking and control and you then could use the sway bar. I towed a slightly heavier boat with my 2013 Yukon XL with zero problems, but XL has a longer wheelbase.

Padraig

 

[j91z28d1]

only other thing that might hurt you is are you running the correct tire. if you're going to tow, I'd say make sure you have LT rated tires. I don't tow much but I went from old LT rated tires it came with to a softer non lt rated tire and can tell a noticeable difference in how the truck handles, and that's not towing anything. it much more sloppy just around town. when I tow next I'll have to see but I don't tow a rv wind brakes like you guys, so I think I'll be fine and wanted a softer ride on the bad roads around town.

but if you just bought the truck, it came with cheap tires and want to tow something big. I'd make sure everything matches.


I do like that weight scale hitch.. but I also did OK adjusting the car location to max psi the airbag like, which is 80psi at rest from what I found. under 120 for sure

 

[mikez71]

www.tsbsearch.com/Chevrolet/21-NA-199

If gm went through the trouble to replace the original 19x degree thermostat in the trans with a cooler one, one would think any temp over the 194 or 195 would not be good for the transmission.

Interesting.. I have a '12 6l80 with no cooler, usually hits 190-200 an any drive over 25 mins or so.. 210k miles and no problems (yet!) not towing.
That said, I would like cooler temps and am installing the small factory cooler soon..

 

[15burban]

Interesting.. I have a '12 6l80 with no cooler, usually hits 190-200 an any drive over 25 mins or so.. 210k miles and no problems (yet!) not towing.
That said, I would like cooler temps and am installing the small factory cooler soon..

Doesn't your radiator have a built in cooler for the trans?

 

[swathdiver]

Doesn't your radiator have a built in cooler for the trans?

It does but cooling is so much better when combined with the external cooler.

 

[big_tow]

You may want to consider replacing the surge brakes with electric over hydraulic. Much better braking and control and you then could use the sway bar. I towed a slightly heavier boat with my 2013 Yukon XL with zero problems, but XL has a longer wheelbase.

Padraig

i am considering electric brakes on trailer. i will see how the new suspension works. suspension was shot at any rate and needed to be replaced.

 

[big_tow]

Curious...why did you decide to replace the air ride system with standard components? General consensus here is that the factory air ride is THE golden ticket for towing duty on these, and that matches my experience as well.

i was not aware of that being the case. i think replacing all of the air ride components would have been costly. either way its done now...

 

[Geotrash]

i was not aware of that being the case. i think replacing all of the air ride components would have been costly. either way its done now...

I’ll just mention it in case you decide to go back… New rear air shocks are about $300 each from Rock auto, and the compressor is maybe $200.

 

[Larryjb]

i was not aware of that being the case. i think replacing all of the air ride components would have been costly. either way its done now...

While air ride is nice, it doesn't actually transfer tongue weight to the front axle, it merely levels the truck. A weight distributing hitch actually lifts the weight off the rear axle and transfers it to the front axle. This is better for handling.

Imagine placing yourself between the rear axle and truck. The weight is still on the axle. Imagine lifting on the back bumper of the truck. You are lifting the weight off the rear axle. This is what the WDH does, and can be helpful if you are near the maximum weight rating of the rear axle. A WDH might also help to save your rear wheel bearings.

 

[donjetman]

The factory hitch on my 07 Yukon Denali is rated for:
500 Lbs tongues wt.,
and
5000 lbs total towing/pulling wt.

Your results may vary

 

[Grady_Wilson]

The factory hitch on my 07 Yukon Denali is rated for:
500 Lbs tongues wt.,
and
5000 lbs total towing/pulling wt.

Your results may vary

I noticed the much lower hitch rating than actual tow rating of my Denali.
Supposedly, my Denali is rated at 8,100 lbs towing capacity but the factory hitch says 5,000 lbs like yours does.
GM must use the same hitch across all of their SUV lines.
Guess if I want to actually safely tow anywhere near the rated tow capacity I need to upgrade the hitch.

 

[Grady_Wilson]

I just ordered another hitch from Tractor Supply.
They are having a blow out on towing and trailering equipment so go check it out.
Picked up a Reese 7,000 lb hitch for $65 plus tax.
Not big enough to cover the actual tow capacity of my Yukon but still gives me an extra ton of capacity over the stock hitch.
It will work for now.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/catalog/hitches-ball-mounts

Poking around online I found these specs for towing capacity.
Explains why there is a 5,000 lb hitch on all of the Yukon / Tahoe SUVs.

 

[big_tow]

While air ride is nice, it doesn't actually transfer tongue weight to the front axle, it merely levels the truck. A weight distributing hitch actually lifts the weight off the rear axle and transfers it to the front axle. This is better for handling.

Imagine placing yourself between the rear axle and truck. The weight is still on the axle. Imagine lifting on the back bumper of the truck. You are lifting the weight off the rear axle. This is what the WDH does, and can be helpful if you are near the maximum weight rating of the rear axle. A WDH might also help to save your rear wheel bearings.

We use one with the camper, but the boat trailer has surge brakes. Yes you are correct though

 

[tagexpcom]

This got me curious so I took a pic of my 2021 Yukon Denali hitch (as apposed to the door label) and it shows 850lb tongue and 8,500lb trailer.

The door sticker is 750lb tongue and 7,500lb towing.

 

[Foggy]

Hitches etc are wight rated WITH or WITHOUT weight distribution hitches.
So you need to look at both...
To me, anything you tow that's over 4K or 400 lb tongue weight SHOULD
be towed using a weight dist system hitch... It's much safer, easier to drive and
a helluva lot easier and your truck

 

[Geotrash]

Hitches etc are wight rated WITH or WITHOUT weight distribution hitches.
So you need to look at both...
To me, anything you tow that's over 4K or 400 lb tongue weight SHOULD
be towed using a weight dist system hitch... It's much safer, easier to drive and
a helluva lot easier and your truck

100% agree, on all points.

 

[Airman68]

I tow a #5000-ish boat with my 2008 Yukon XL and it does pretty well but I will have to say I think the 4 spd transmission is really the weak point, meaning, I think the 6 speed would work much better. I did add an aux cooler and on the hottest day, it stays at or below 200. Winter, well it doesn't warm up unless I drive quite a ways. I wonder if that will be a long term issue. I could really bypass the aux cooler in the winter. Any opinions?